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In 1944 American Soldiers injured in the Normandy Offensive were hospitalised in the Sudbury Area. Miss Smith, a Teacher at Bemrose School in Derby , appealed for any families who would be able to entertain Soldiers on Christmas Day.My Mother and Father agreed to offer Hospitality. So it was that two American Soldiers arrived by Army Truck on Christmas morning to join in our festive meal and spend time with a typical English Family.

Thay stayed with us for the whole day , telling us all about themselves and their family back home. In the eveningwe played the usual parlour games of that era like " Subject and Object" finishing up with a singsong. This included such songs as " Bluebirds over the White Cliffs of Dover " and " Coming on a Wing and a Prayer " accompanied by Mother on the Piano.

Garvin Haist from Los Angeles and Robert W Kolts from Salt Lake City were really appreciative of the time they had spent with us and Mother kept up a correspondence with them and their families for many years after the War. They even sent small food parcels to us during those difficult days of rationing.

In my autograph album I treasure the two entries which they made :
"To a very,very swell English family who made a Christmas a long way from home almost as perfect as if I had been at home . Remember a G.I who you made very happy " Garvin Haist , Los Angeles , California.

"may your joys be as deep as the ocean and your troubles as light as its foam. Happy New Year wishes and hope you will have many more joyous Christmas Days. With many Thanks!" Robert W Kolts , Salt Lake City , Utah.

The following Christmas we entertained two more G.I's. However , they only stayed for Christmas Dinner and then went off into Derby for their entertainment! Father was not too pleased.

Due to this account appearing in the Derby Telegraph , a reader from the Ripley area with friends in Utah made contact with a Mrs R.W Kolts. She turned out to be the wife of Robert Kolts , who sadly died in February 2004. I wrote to her and sent a copy of the page from my autograph album, along with photos of the family in 1946 and one of my wife , Nora and myself. She was delighted and in return sent me photos of herself and Robert. She also included an account of his Christmas Day with us , which he had written for his family.

The same reader from Ripley then did search for Garvin Haist and found only one in America. He lives in Las Vegas and is aged 83. So I wrote an introductory letter to him and received an email back confirming that he was the G.I who visited our family in 1944. We are now corresponding and exchanging photographs.

How wonderful to make contact after 61 Years.

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